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Softboxes vs. Umbrellas

Which lights produce which effects

The bigger the softbox the softer your Shadows. Different types can produce different effects, and it’s not only the Size that can change the final image but also the shape and Distance from the camera. Timeline

27 Comments

Nice video. I’d like to learn more about using softboxes/umbrellas for sure and you’ve put it quite simply.
I would however have liked to have seen more side-by-side comparisons of the images that you took to demonstrate the difference visually.

In regards to preference over the other, I really feel taht you need to have images side by side to a see a major difference…that being said, I prefer the softbox for a different reason than just the light it casts.

The main reason I choose a softbox is for the catch light in the eye. Over the past 6 months or so, I’m always looking at catch lights in photos and I love the way a softbox creates the square in the eye. Maybe, as Aaron alluded to, it’s because it resembles window lighting to some extent.

Thanks for the vids man! Love the Phlearn team. And this community…baller. 😉

There’s also one thing to note about the distance of your light. If your light is further away, by the time it reaches the subject, the attenuation (1/r² for a point source) is approaching a more linear falloff which means the background will be brighter in relation to the subject.

Having a light right next to the subject will afford a darker background because the light is falling off quicker at closer distances.

Thanks Aaron for the great video and look forward to seeing more stunning videos from the Phlearn Studio. My question is, is there a big difference in using Paul C. Buff’s softboxes vs the Elinchrom’s softboxes?

Thanks man. My budget for new lighting gear is a little tight and I wanted to get the most bang for my bucks. I would love, love to have elinchrom gear, but if Mr. Buff’s gear can do the same thing, well I am going for the Buff gear. Thanks for sharing.

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Thank you, Have a good day